One piece garment

ABSTRACT

A play uniform comprising a one piece garment with enclosed feet characterized by the provision of visually distinct areas relating to the rules of activity of the game for which the garment is to be used.

United States Patent i191 Ealy [4 1 Feb. 12, 1974 ONE PIECE GARMENT [75] Inventor: Mary I. Ealy, Monee, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Merry Jumpsuits [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 223,675

[52] U.S. Cl. 2/79 [51] Int. Cl A4ld 13/02 [58] Field of Search 2/79, 80, 224 R, 2 27 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 256,532 4/1882 Appelton 2/224 R 610,564 9/1898 Scriven 408,438 8/1889 Roper 2/224 R 364,650 6/1887 Holmes 2/224 R x FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,435,984 l/1970 Germany 2/79 628,215 6/1927 France 2/80 498,708 12/1953 Canada 2/79 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Hosiery and Underwear, pg. 22, June I969 Primary Examiner--l-I. Hampton Hunter [57] ABSTRACT A play uniform comprising a one piece garment with enclosed feet characterized by the provision of visually distinct areas relating to the rules of activity of the game for which the garment is to be used.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures 1 ONE PIECE GARMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention relates to work and play garments. 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Usually most items of wearing apparel are two piece garments featuring an upper, or shirt portion, and a lower, trouser or skirt portion. Athletic uniforms, such as baseball and football uniforms, have been of sepa rate top, or shirt portions, and lower, or trouser portions, with the trousers terminating just below the knee of the user. There has further been provided separate hose or socks covering the lower leg. These uniforms have been cumbersome, restrictive to the body, and inconvenient to put on or take off.

It is the object of this invention to meet the need and desire in the art for an improved work or play garment which is generally of a one piece construction and capable of suitable use within the several activities of its intended application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved one piece work or play garment.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a one piece sleeveless garment having a vertical zipper extending from the neck to the crotch area. The garment has areas of different color from must below the kneecap and is provided with enclosed feet which preferably retain the visually distinctive coloration of the portion below the knee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simulated baseball player wearing the garment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the garment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the garment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section view of the garment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the garment of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The specific embodiment of the garment of this invention is intended for use by a baseball player 12 as a baseball uniform. As shown in FIG. 1, the simulated baseball player 12 is in a batting pose, having swung the Preferably, the upper portion 16 and lower portion 26 are of a common fabric and of integral construction. The feet portions may be separate pieces of fabric secured to the legs 28 and 30 of the garment 10.

Access into, and out, of the garment is facilitated by a vertical zipper 36, preferably located in the midportion of the front of the garment 10 from the neck area to the crotch area, generally designated 38. Other means may be utilized, such as buttons or Velcro fasteners for gaining access to the interior of the garment. If desired, pockets 40 may be provided on the exterior of the rear of the lower portion 26 of the garment. Decorative features, such as the side striping 42, may be provided to add to the aesthetics of the garment.

A significant feature of the garment 10 of this invention is the provision of visually distinctive areas on portions of the garment 10 which pertain to the play or rules of the game, for which the garment 10 is intended to be used. For example, in the game of baseball, the strike zone has been classically defined as an area generally between the knees and the armpits. In the former type of baseball uniform, previously described, wherein the trousers were of a knickers-type and the lower portion of the leg below the knee was covered with separate hose, this physically distinguishing feature aided umpires in determining the strike zone. However, in a one piece garment, or in a uniform for use in the game of baseball wherein the trousers do not terminate at the knee area, this physical distinction is eliminated. Accordingly, a feature of this invention is the provision of visually distinguishing areas, generally indicated 44 in combination with a uniform wherein the trouser portions do not terminate at the knee. These visually distinct areas 44 are, in the preferred embodiment, in the form of a pattern which begins at a triangular apex 440, just below the knee portion 46 of the trousers. The triangular apex widens so that the color completely covers the enclosed feed portions 32 and 34. However, it

is to be understood that the specific pattern of the color portions 44 may differ so long as the visually distinguishing characteristics thereof indicate a form of per- 'ceptible demarcation at the area just below the knee of the uniform. This feature can also be useful in other sports. For example, in the game of football, certain maneuvers are legal only if done within a certain area of the body of the participant. Again, these areas may be easily perceived in the classical uniform made up of a shirt, knicker-like trousers and separate hose. However, in a one piece garment of the type shown herein, the classical physical characteristic of the garment is no longer present. Thus, resort may be had to visually distinct areas such as by means of color patterns or the like.

Thus, it can be seen that the garment of this invention is a convenient one piece enclosing garment with the upper portion 16 and lower portion 26 defining a com pletely body-enclosing garment, except for the arms and head of the user. The complete enclosure afforded by the garment for the feet eliminates the need for separate socks or hose to be worn, and the uniform may be easily and simply put on by the intended wearer by unzipping the zipper 36 and stepping into the uniform. If desired, the feet portions 32 and 34 could be partially open and athletic socks worn thereunder. In colder weather a longsleeve sweatshirt or athletic undershirt may be worn under the upper portion of the garment and in warmer weather this shirt may be dispensed with or a lighter weight shortsleeve undershirt may be utilized. Even though the physical distinction of the separate socks andtrousers is no longer present, the uniform may still carry out its intended function by the provision of the visually distinct areas afforded by the patterns 44 at the lower ends of the trousers to assist umpires in defining a strike zone of a participant. Preferably, the uniform would be made of a slightly resilient or streachable material to aid in its yieldability and versatility thereby providing, in combination with its basic design, an unrestrictive free-feeling garment which is not only easy to put on and take off, and eliminates the need for separate specific items of clothing, but further facilitates the freedom of movement of the wearer and the comfort of the wearer during the participation in a given activity.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. A unitary play garment fabricated of lightweight material for ease of movement, comprising:

an upper torso portion having arm and neck openings therein; v

a lower torso portion including a pair of depending legs extending from a crotch, each leg having an upper leg portion and a distinguishable lower leg portion, each lower leg portion terminating in a foot portion, each foot portion being of a different color from the upper leg portion and terminating in a completely closed foot which extends generally transversely of the remainder of the respective leg;

an elasticized waist portion integrally connected to and intermediate the upper and lower torso portions; and

means for gaining access to the interior of the garment, said means extending generally from the neck opening through the waist portion and to the crotch area. 

1. A unitary play garment fabricated of lightweight material for ease of movement, comprising: an upper torso portion having arm and neck openings therein; a lower torso portion including a pair of depending legs extending from a crotch, each leg having an upper leg portion and a distinguishable lower leg portion, each lower leg portion terminating in a foot portion, each foot portion being of a different color from the upper leg portion and terminating in a completely closed foot which extends generally transversely of the remainder of the respective leg; an elasticized waist portion integrally connected to and intermediate the upper and lower torso portions; and means for gaining access to the interior of the garment, said means extending generally from the neck opening through the waist portion and to the crotch area. 